A Rememberance of My Father

Quote: As a father is kind to his children, so the Lord is kind to those who honor him.  He knows what we are made of; he remembers that we are dust.  Psalm 103:13-14

My father’s birthday – the Ides of March.  Born in 1912 in NYC, he was the third son but really the head of the family once his father died in October 1929.  His oldest  brother was in the military and the second brother died of meningitis at age four.  So, his mom was pregnant with her 10th child, who was born in January 1930.   At that point, my dad had to leave school to support the family during the Depression.  He joined the CCC’s (Civilian Conservation Corps) and loved it.  The men earned $30 a month and $25 was sent home to his mom.  My dad once told us he gained 15 pounds while away cutting down trees in Boise, Idaho, because he never saw so much food.  He came from a hard-working, poor family, but wow, I wish I could be more like he was!

He inspired me to do things I never thought I could do – finish college by going at night.  He was able to play and amuse my sons without toys!  With a blade of grass, he could make them giggle!  But there were other thoughts, too, like when I passed his bedroom at night and saw him on his knees praying.  Or like when he had to work a second job (weekends) for two years to buy a new car.  He would always go to Mass on his hour lunch break on Sundays.  Would I have done that???  An avid reader, he read several books a week.  Many years later, when packing up my parent’s home, I came across his high school math notebooks and marveled at his printing, handwriting, and formation of numbers.

When I was in high school and all my friends were taking French – not me…Dad said take Spanish. It will be more useful for you – yes, it was, and that was in the 1960’s.  I am very grateful for that now. But with all these memories, I can’t ever remember saying ‘Thank You’!  Because, being a teenager, what did my father really know?  Oh, how wrong I was!  I believe he is in heaven, and today, all I have are my sweet memories of a life well lived.  His lasting examples and kind words are in my heart.  I am in awe as I look back on his life.  Happy Birthday, Dad!

Shared by Mary Ann